BDI-International Magazine - Issue-4-Yumpu

Make New Circumstances
Creating new circumstances will also help
parents provide their children with the
safe space that prior to COVID-19 was
associated with the weekends and vacation
leisure time.
For Tursi, this is a productive opportunity
for parents to replace old weekend and
vacation traditions with new and
memorable events, amidst the highs and
lows of the pandemic.
Even if this year your best alternative is
an adventurous “staycation” with the little
ones, it is an opportunity to gather more
insight about your children and the most
effective ways to support them throughout
the new normal.
“It’s a difficult time for everybody. But, it’s
trying to become a little more innovative
and thinking outside of the box for the
sake of the kids,” Dr. Mafut shared 7 .
The physician, who has treated many BDI
members over the years, adds that
providing these safe spaces during the
weekends and on vacation will be
paramount in letting kids and teenagers
“release their emotions… while waiting
this [pandemic] out.”
“So, what do parents have to do? Parents
have to become a little bit more
compassionate,” said Dr. Mafut.
“Give them their space to release their
emotions but talk to them afterwards. Ask
them ‘Are you missing your friends? What
do you think? Maybe we can video chat
with your friends?’ It’s about ways of
bridging the communications and the
social gap that we have right now while
waiting this out.”
Really Listen
Carving out safe spaces during the
weekends and on vacation can also set the
tone for children to open up about any
pandemic-related worry or stress that they
may be struggling with. The key, according
to Dr. Mafut, is to “really listen” to cease
this opportunity.
“The first thing I would say is, if you are
seeing these behaviors, try to sit them
down and ask them, ‘What is frustrating
you? Are you scared of this situation?’ Let
them honestly tell you what they feel,”
explained Dr. Mafut 8 .
“But listen to them,” she added. “Actually
listen to what they have to say. If you don’t
feel confident that you know to handle
that, then that is when you would want to
call your PCP or your pediatrician and get
some extra help there in terms of what to
say. Maybe even setting up a meeting for
the child…via telemedicine.”
Dr. Mafut also highlighted, particularly
for parents with teens, that connecting
with them during this pandemic
will be crucial.
“In this particular day and age with social
media, getting attention online has
become a big component of being a
teenager,” Dr. Mafut elaborated.
“We [parents] have to do more than just
talk to them,” said Dr. Mafut. “We need
to observe them and watch for unspoken
signals. So, we are not waiting for the
moment when they are completely an
emotional wreck from this situation.”
The main goal on the weekends and
during your time off with your family, as
Tursi adds, should be to “use your time
wisely. It’s about having a rhythm that
replaces working days with resting days.”
Alexandra Gratereaux is the Marketing Specialist at Best Doctors Insurance. She is an
innovative and creative journalist, marketing, and public relations professional from New York
City. Alexandra has been a news reporter covering a range of topics and issues for ventures
such as ABC News, Fox News, Fox News Latino and United Press International. She has
interviewed hundreds of A-Listers including Jennifer Lopez, John Leguizamo and Andy García
to name a few. Alexandra’s professional journey began in her native hometown of Miami Beach,
Fla., where she worked at the Miami Herald covering the local neighborhood beat. She was
also a writer at the Miami Sunpost, where she was the youngest hired reporter interviewing
high-profile celebrities. She resides in Miami Beach, Fla., and enjoys interests such as traveling,
writing and special events planning.
Source:
1: https://organizzatessen.it/paolatursi/
2: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/family/2020/06/how-to-build-a-better-weekendcoronavirus/?cmpid=org=ngp::mc=crm-email::src=ngp::cmp=editorial::add=FFG_
Special_20200614&rid=1D1CD3FD7D6BE50EAA4FC818AF1152E6
3: https://www.natgeo.pt/familia/2020/06/dos-pais-para-a-covid-19-vamos-retomar-osnossos-fins-de-semana
4: https://vivimilano.corriere.it/playlist/gli-specialisti-che-vi-riordinano-la-casa-i-nostriindirizzi-top/
5: https://www.instagram.com/fitlifepeds/?hl=en
6, 7, 8: https://bestdoctorsinsurance.com/coronavirus-kids-parenting-dr-damaris-mafut/
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